Monthly Archives: February 2016

First, everyone dreams of travel. They either wish to travel more or start and travel for the remainder of their days – unsurprising really – travel is the ultimate dream for many – me included.

Second – even if coming into a substantial sum of money (think the recent USA lottery jackpot of way too many millions for one person) many people will choose to continue working – just in a different capacity to the job they are currently in.

If money weren’t an issue how would you spend your time?

It appears unanimous that we want to spend our time productively whether that be volunteer work, developing a hobby further or starting up that business we have dreamed of and built up in our own minds a hundred times. So essentially if we have a financial safety net the leap of faith into the life we dream of would be taken with ease? Pause. Let’s take a moment to think about that for the briefest of seconds because we need to consider time.

Time is a concept pondered at length because it just is. It merely exists in its untouchable form and yet has the most profound impact upon how we chose to live. There are people fighting for more time; we are often quoted as saying we have no time and that time is going by quickly. Perhaps the better question is how are we spending time – the most precious aspect of life…

Yet time just is – It is an unforgiving. It exists without the ability of being manipulated. It cannot be paused or rewound or fast forward and if we don’t spend our time as we want, we are merely watching it pass by irretrievable because the greatest truth is that time is the only thing that can never be brought back.

Those at the end of their mortal time speak of regret and often in regards to taking leaps of faith. Why wait for life to be in such a way that you will feel confortable to take a leap – because what if that perfect time never eventuates? We wait for so many things! I will refrain from listing all the many things we wastefully wait for because I appreciate your time is of the upmost value – but if you don’t believe that yourself it may be time to reflect a little deeper because our tomorrows are never guaranteed.

Right now, there is someone out there that was brave enough to step out – even without a huge financial safety net – and this person is now living your dream. They didn’t wait for a lotto win that may never come because they put the highest value on their dreams and decided that leaving it to chance and in the hands of the universe was not an option. They most likely shared your reservations. Your concerns also weighed on their shoulders. Your worries probably kept them awake at night. They undoubtedly listed all of the ways they could fail and they may not have succeeded completely first time, or the second…or the third time… but there is one big difference between you and them in this moment – the biggest difference is that they bundled up all of the concerns and fears and they took the leap – and they are living your dream with their feet up and cocktail in hand marveling down at the creation of their happiness – because no one hands you your dream… you create it!

This person is now working in your dream job and living life with the satisfaction of patting themselves on the back for realizing that often there is no better time than now.

Your mind is unmistakably and silently screaming out in fear. Fear can be debilitating. Fear of failure is a great concern but realistically the only failure is never getting started. Perhaps the word ‘failure’ should be replaced with the term ‘degree of success’ which is determined by you… just some food for thought…

Ultimately, I am not here to say jump prematurely – or to take massive risks to achieve big unless you calculate the risks and jump wisely and with knowledge and a plan – but take steps to get there. Start moving your dream in the direction of having it realized because in the words of Les Brown

“The graveyard is the richest place on earth, because it is here that you will find all the hopes and dreams that were never fulfilled, the books that were never written, the songs that were never sung, the inventions that were never shared, the cures that were never discovered, all because someone was too afraid to take that first step, keep with the problem, or determined to carry our their dream.”

The day marked in a calendar to remind us to display and celebrate love and appreciation, often in the form of grand gestures. Flowers, chocolates, cards, candle lit dinners, gifts, hot air balloon rides, picnic in the park – anything synonymous with the concept of romance.

The historical aspect of the significance of this date appears to have been blurred somewhere along the way. One such story took me to ancient Roma circa 3rd century where we are introduced to a Christian martyr called Valentinus. The story so goes that being sentenced to death for his religious beliefs and practices, he meets a young woman and the result is described as an all consuming love for one another and with all great love stories it would appear has only one fate… to end by death as did this one. In fairness and in comparison to Romeo and Juliet, this story of Valentinus started with his impending death.

He was alleged to have been executed on this day, February 14. In his legacy, he left a note for his love, signing it off “from your Valentine”. Yet again in fairness, as with all stories and particularly romances, the truth of the story is dependent upon who is telling it…

Leading up to this day, the advice for creating the perfect one have been endless with guidance of the type of gifts you can and can’t buy and the way you should or shouldn’t spend it. So many rules! It’s no wonder many have been sweating the arrival of this day in fear you can and will get it wrong… and if it isn’t the most perfect day you imagined, what then?

To some the day will mean nothing more than hearing and potentially witnessing many moments of love; to other’s it may be a day that will forever be marked in the diary of their love stories; and to others again it may be a day of some sadness for lost loves or no current romantic love… but why can’t it be a day to remind ourselves to love us first. Be your own champion in your story!

Today, like every day before and after should be a day to make yourself a priority in your own world! Love yourself first, completely and unconditionally! Regardless of whether you’re celebrating with a significant other or not, you should never neglect to fill your heart with your own unconditional love.

Today give care to what your soul is in need of and today listen…truly listen to your heart. Listen deeply through the haze of commercial hype and instead swim in the ambiance of the positive and loving energies being circulated today. In today’s society with the many tragedies and devastations’, it is rare that societies focus is on love and kindness in this way… let your soul take advantage of it and use it as a boost to reignite the passions. It should never be the role of another to love you in place of loving yourself. By recognizing your personal value independent of another’s value of you, you will never look to another to validate your place in the world. You alone are responsible for the footprint and legacy you will impose upon the world; and you are responsible for the love you bring in and put out into the universe; and you are responsible for the path upon which your life will take.

So today the day of love, be kind to yourself. Take a moment to nourish your soul. Do something to create the space in your heart for love and passion to swell unobstructed and be gentle of your minds thoughts to allow the free flowing of love and happiness to be embraced.

Today show the world that you are not afraid of love… and today and everyday show that you will love yourself just as much as you do and will love others. Create some space in your soul for a deep and connecting love with yourself for it will be a love that will create the life and happiness you seek… and that is a love that creates love stories that even Shakespeare would envy…